it in the cells of the condemned felons at Newgate prison. In 1709 the Rectory at Epworth, where the author resided, was burned to the ground. It was from this fire that John Wesley, a little boy six years of age, was rescued with difficulty; one man standing upon the shoulders of another, and lifting him out of a window, just before the building fell. It is said that while the author's library, sermons, and manuscripts were destroyed, this hymn, in manuscript, was found in the garden partially burned. The last stanza begins: "I view the Lamb," etc. Three stanzas, the fifth, sixth, and seventh, are omitted: 5 "Come, then, and to my soul reveal 6 "Before my eyes of faith confessed, 7 "Jehovah in Thy person show, And then the pardoning God I know, From Hymns for the Use of Families, 1767. The Rev. Samuel Wesley, father of Revs. John and Charles Wesley, was born in 1662. While an academy student, Wesley expected to enter the ministry of the Dissenters. The change in his opinions was a little remarkable. Some one had written severely against the Dissenters, and Mr. Samuel Wesley was appointed to reply. This led him to a course of reading, and in the end resulted differently from what was expected. He left the Dissenters, and attached himself to the Established Church. Entering Exeter College, Oxford, as a 217 Servitor, he was graduated therefrom in 1688. Ordained soon after, he served as curate in several places. In 1696 he dedicated his Life of Christ, an Heroic Poem, to Queen Mary, who presented him to the living at Epworth, where he remained until his death in 1735. His poetic talent was not great; but under the inspiration of this sublime theme, he exceeded himself. His more gifted son, Charles, never wrote a more valuable hymn than this. 2 Will he forsake his throne above, 3 In manifested love explain What meant, thou suffering Son of man, 4 Didst thou not in our flesh appear, And live and die below, 5 Might view the Lamb in his own light, CHARLES WESLEY. IS midnight; and on Olives' brow 'Tis midnight; in the garden, now, 2 'Tis midnight; and from all removed, 3 'Tis midnight; and for others' guilt 4 'Tis midnight; and from ether-plains WILLIAM B. TAPPAN. Author's title: Gethsemane. "E'en the disciple that he loved." William Bingham Tappan was born in Massachusetts in 1794, and lived till 1849. Mr. Tappan was emphatically a self-made man. His father died when he was young. He never attended school, except for six months; but taught school for several years, successfully, in Philadelphia. A pious mother's prayers and teaching saved him from gross immorality, and when he came to manhood he became an earnest Christian. He was connected with the American Sunday-School Union, in Boston, and also in Cincinnati and Philadelphia. He is sometimes called "Rev.," for he was licensed to preach in 1840, but was never ordained. He published several volumes of poetry, but derived little pecuniary profit from them. He was a 'Tis finished! yes, the race is run; 2 'Tis finished! all that Heaven foretold 3 'Tis finished! Son of God, thy power 4 'Tis finished! let the joyful sound SAMUEL STENNETT, IN PART. Text: "It is finished." John xix, 30. It is hardly fair to ascribe this hymn, as it stands here, to Stennett. He is the author of the first and last stanzas only. The other two are by an "unknown" writer. They were, no doubt, composed by some hymn-book compiler. The original hymn, six stanzas, was contributed to Rippon's Selection, in 1787. The Rev. Samuel Stennett, D.D., an English Baptist minister, was born at Exeter, in 1727; and was a man of ability and scholarship. In 1758 he succeeded his father as pastor of the Wild Street Church, in London, where he remained for thirty seven years. He died in 1795. Dr. Stennett was the author of some prose writings, and of thirtyseven hymns, which may be found at the end of vol. iii, of his Works, London, 1824. 4 Hail, holy cross! from thee we learn 5 Jehovah, we thy name adore, VENANTIUS FORTUNATUS. Title: Vexilla Regis Prodeunt. This famous passion hymn was composed about 580 A. D. The translation is, unaltered and entire, from Hymns of the Primitive Church, 1887. Venantius Fortunatus, a Latin poet, was born in Italy, about 530; was naturally of a gay disposition, and spent the earlier part of his life in France either in idleness, or in writing fashionable literature. He was past middle life when he entered the ministry. In 599 he was appointed Bishop of Portiers, but died soon after, about 609. Some of his hymns have a great reputation in the Roman Catholic Church. The most famous is the passion hymn: Pange, lingua, gloriosi, proelium certaminis, which has been translated by Dr. Neale and others. 220 0 LOVE divine, what hast thou done! The Father's co-eternal Son, Bore all my sins upon the tree! The Son of God for me hath died: My Lord, my Love, is crucified. 2 Behold him, all ye that pass by, The bleeding Prince of life and peace! Come, sinners, see your Saviour die, And say, was ever grief like his? 3 Is crucified for me and you, 4 Then let us sit beneath his cross, CHARLES WESLEY. What means that strange expiring cry? 2 Jesus, descended from above, If all the world through thee may live, 3 Thou loving, all-atoning Lamb, 4 O let thy love my heart constrain! That every fallen son of man CHARLES WESLEY. Composed of stanzas twelve, fourteen, sixteen, and eighteen of a long hymn, entitled Jesus Christ the Saviour of all Men. This was one of many hyinns that grew out of the fierce Calvinistic controversy of that day. From Hymns on God's Everlasting Love, 1741. Among the omitted stanzas is one that is rather remarkable: "O let me kiss Thy bleeding feet, And bathe, and wash them with my tears; In every drooping sinner's ears, That all may hear the quickening sound: In the original, the second stanza begins with "Adam," etc.; and the third, with "Dear, loving," etc. 222 0 SACRED Head, now wounded, Now scornfully surrounded With thorns, thine only crown; 2 What thou, my Lord, hast suffered 3 What language shall I borrow 4 Be near me when I'm dying, Come, Lord, and set me free: These eyes, new faith receiving, From Jesus shall not move; For he who dies believing, Dies safely, through thy love. BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX, PAUL GERHARDT. TR. BY J. W. ALEXANDER. From The Christian Lyre, 1830. This hymn is now universally known by the first line of the original: Salve, caput cruentatum. In the Latin it consists of fivestanzas of ten lines each, ard is entitled Ad faciem Christi in cruce pendentis. It has been rendered into English by several translators. This excellent version was first translated into German by Paul Gerhardt, and then into English. The Rev. James Waddell Alexander was a Presbyterian clergyman, born in 1804; was graduated at Princeton in 1820; a pastor for several years, then editor, and then professor at Princeton. He died in 1859. For sketch of Bernard, see No. 327. 223 G YO to dark Gethsemane, ☑ Ye that feel the tempter's power; Your Redeemer's conflict see, Watch with him one bitter hour; Turn not from his griefs away, 2 Follow to the judgment-hall; O the pangs his soul sustained! Shun not suffering, shame, or loss; Learn of him to bear the cross. 3 Calvary's mournful mountain climb; There, adoring at his feet, Mark that miracle of time, God's own sacrifice complete: "It is finished!" hear him cry; Learn of Jesus Christ to die. 4 Early hasten to the tomb, Where they laid his breathless clay; All is solitude and gloom; Who hath taken him away? Christ is risen; he meets our eyes; Saviour, teach us so to rise! JAMES MONTGOMERY. From George Burder's Collection, 1784. This beautiful hymn also appeared in Rippon's Selection, 1787, where it was marked F. Some collections ascribed it to Francis. It is claimed, however, that F. meant Foleshill, where Evans was pastor. It has not been altered, but two stanzas, the third and fourth, of the original have been omitted: 8 "Finished all the types and shadows Saints from hence your comforts draw. 4 "Happy souls, approach the table, It is finished! Christ has borne the heavy load." See No. 55. 225 S ING with all the sons of glory, Sing the resurrection song! Death and sorrow, earth's dark story, To the former days belong: All around the clouds are breaking, Soon the storms of time shall cease, In God's likeness, man awaking, Knows the everlasting peace. 2 O what glory, far exceeding All that eye has yet perceived! Holiest hearts for ages pleading, Never that full joy conceived. God has promised, Christ prepares it, There on high our welcome waits; Every humble spirit shares it, Christ has passed the eternal gates. 3 Life eternal! heaven rejoices, 4 Life eternal! O what wonders Crowd on faith; what joy unknown, When, amidst earth's closing thunders, Saints shall stand before the throne! O to enter that bright portal, See that glowing firmament, Know, with thee, O God immortal, "Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent!" WILLIAM J. IRONS. From Psalms and Hgmns for the Church. Written by William J. Irons, D.D., Prebendary of St. Paul's, and Rector of St. Mary's, Woolworth. London, 1875. ORIGINAL LINES. Verse one, lines five to eight inclusive: The Rev. William Josiah Irons, D.D., a Church of England clergyman, was born in 1812, and lived until 1883. 226 COME Jesus, victor over death. 8,7, 4. ye saints, look here and wonder; See the place where Jesus lay: Yes, the Lord has risen to-day. Thus he fills his foes with shame: Praises to the Victor's name. 3 Jesus triumphs! countless legions Come from heaven to meet their King; Soon, in yonder blessed regions, They shall join his praise to sing: Shall through heaven's high arches ring. not die. 2 Glory to God, in full anthems of joy; The being he gave us death cannot destroy: Sad were the life we may part with to-mor row, If tears were our birthright, and death were our end; But Jesus hath cheered that dark valley of sorrow, And bade us, immortal, to heaven ascend: Lift then your voices in triumph on high, For Jesus hath risen, and man shall not die. HENRY WARE, JR. Title: Resurrection of Christ. This glad hymn of victory was written in 1817, and was first published in the Christian Disciple, and afterward in the Christian Ecaminer, Boston. Unaltered. From the Author's Works, vol. i. Boston, 1946. The Rev. Henry Ware, Jr., D.D., was born in Hingham, Mass., in 1794; was graduated at Harvard College in 1812, and then spent some time in teaching. In 1817 he was ordained pastor of a Unitarian church in Boston. In 1829 Dr. Ware was appointed Professor of Pulpit Eloquence and Pastoral Care in Cambridge Theological School; which position he held till the year previous to his death in 1843. He was the author of a number of hymns which are found in his works. |